The Day I knew I was meant to Teach.

I’ve always believed that teaching is more than standing in front of a class. But the day I knew for sure? I wasn’t even a teacher yet.

I was in SS3. We had travelled from our school to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for our first-ever quiz competition at the state level. And we came last.

My friends and I could barely raise our heads as we walked out of the hall. We were drenched in shame. We had failed—not just ourselves, but our Literature teacher, who had coached us with all his heart.

We expected anger. Maybe even silence. But what we got was kindness.

As soon as we got into the car, he turned, looked at us, smiled gently, and said:
“You did your best.”
No harsh words. No rebuke. He even drove us straight to a small eatery and bought us chicken and chips—with chilled drinks.

That day, something changed in me.
That day, I said to myself:
“I want to be like him. I want to be a teacher.”

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Years later, today…

I’m still glowing from the joy of what just happened—
My student passed his JAMB exams.

I screamed. I danced. I screamed again.
He had been working so hard. We had spent hours—weeks—studying. And the result? Beautiful.

Today, I’m taking him out to the mall, to the cinema, to eat, laugh, and breathe—because WAEC is coming, and encouragement is preparation too.

Just yesterday, he looked at me and said:
“Thank you, Ma. Not every teacher is like you.”

He meant it. I felt it. I believed it.

And just like that, the story came full circle—
From SS3 quiz tears to JAMB celebration.
From receiving patience to becoming it.
From failure to usefulness.

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Why It Matters?

That moment reminded me why I do what I do.
Not just for results.
But to become someone a student feels safe around. Someone who celebrates their growth—even when it’s messy, slow, or late.

To every teacher reading this:
May your efforts be seen. May your impact echo louder than exam scores.

To every learner out there:
You’re allowed to try, to fail, to grow, to pass—and still be celebrated.

To my younger self in that Uyo quiz hall:
We did it.
And it mattered.
It still does.

Let’s Talk:

Have you ever had a moment when someone believed in you even when you didn’t “win”?

• What did that do for you?
• Have you passed that kindness forward—maybe as a teacher, mentor, sibling, or friend?

Or maybe you’re still in that “trying” phase, what do you need to feel encouraged right now?